Body-protector.



PATENTED MAY 1, 1906.

T. B. SMITH.

BODY PROTECTOR.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 12, 1905.

Wi hwooeo UNTTED PATENT OFFICE.

BODY-PROTECTOR.

Application filed June 12,

T0 aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, Tnouas B. SMITH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Cynthiana, in the county of Harrison and State of Kentucky, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Body Protectors, of which the following is a specification.

This invention consists of a protector or protective garment to be applied to the body, and designed particularly as a medicated pad or protective covering for the back and chest.

The invention resides particularly in the peculiar construction of the pad whereby the same is adapted to fully protect the spine and chest, so as to prevent congestion of the spine and facilitate curing of various diseases, as sciatica, rheumatism, neuralgia, scapulalgia, stomach and kidney troubles.

The invention is for use mainly in the colder seasons of the, year, when the body is most susceptible to ailments such as above described, and the pad or protector may be readily removed and worn according to the desire of the user, dependent upon the condition of his system.

For a full description of the invention and the merits thereof and also to acquire a knowledge of the details of construction of the means for effecting the result reference is to be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of a protector embodying the essential features of the invention. Fig. 2 is a rear elevation bringing out more clearly the form of the spine-protecting parts. Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the invention.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and indicated in all the views of the drawings by the same reference characters.

Specifically describing the article which constitutes this invention, the numeral 1 designates the rear part of the protector, this part being adapted to cover the back or spine to afford protection for this portion of the body.

The numeral 2 designates the front part of the protector, chiefly designed to cover the chest, said front part 2 being detachably connected with the part 1 by means of straps 3, adapted to pass over the shoulders, these straps 3 being removably connected with the parts 1 and 2. The straps 3 preferably have buttonholes at the ends to receive buttons at the upper portions of the parts 1 and 2 afore- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 1, 1906.

1905. Serial No. 264,903-

said. The part 2 of the protector is of a size preferably to adequately cover the chest, so as to thoroughly protect this portion of the body when the article is being used. However, should it be desired to dispense with the chest protector or part 2 it will be seen that the same may be readily removed from the part 1, said part 1 having suitable means for attaching the same to the body, whether the part 2 is used or not.

The part 1 of the protectoris made of several plies or thicknesses of material, preferably, which are secured together by stitching or any suitable means, and this part 1, as well as the part 2, may be medicated with medicaments of a character suited particularly for curing any special ailment of the user of the article. The medicaments used for the parts 1 and 2 of the protector are produced by me; but as these have no particular significance with regard to the structure of the article which comprises this invention the same are not described.

The rear part 1 of the protector consists of an upper or scapulary section 1 and a lower or caudal section 1, these sections being connected together and preferably forming a part of integral layers,thicknesses, or plies I of material. The portions of the rear part 1 of the protector between or connecting the sections 1 and 1 are narrowed or of decreased width, as shown at 4, in order that the wearer of the article may freely move his body in all directions without likelihood of the pad or protector part 1 becoming wrinkled or otherwise misshapened to the extent that the same might interfere with 'the comfort of the wearer. The part 1 is attached to the body by means of shoulder-straps 5, and these straps are adapted to be buttoned to the front part 1 at the upper ends thereof by those buttons which secure the rear ends of the straps 3 to said part 1. Both ends of the straps 5 are attached to the pad or protector part 1, the lower ends having adjustable connection near the lower portion of the scapulary section 1 at opposite sides thereof, so that the straps 5 may be lengthened or shortened and snugly fit about the shoulders of the wearer, the arms being passed through said straps in fastening the protector to the body. Furthermore, the adjustment of the straps 5 admits of tightening the same to such an extent as to pull the shoulders of-the wearer back, and this is advantageous in that the article will readilypermit of use in gradually straightening or pulling the shoulders of the wearer rearwardly to counteract the tendency of persons toward round-shoulderedness. Again, the scapulary section 1 of the rear part 1 is provided near the upper portion thereof and adjacent opposite sides with openings 6 in the outermost ply or thickness of material, so

' that padding may be readily introduced into these portions, and thereby remove to a certain extent the effect of round shoulders so apparent in persons likely to use articles of this class.

Special padding parts may be used for the portions above mentioned within the contemplation of the invention, and vertical lines of stitching 7 may be provided in the rear part 1 to divide the side portions of the scapulary section 1 from the central portion thereof. The caudal section of the part 1 is of particular advantage in an article of this class, since the rear part 1 of the protector extends all of the way from the scapula down the spine to the coccyx, thereby covering the back and protecting thoroughly the lungs, kidneys, and stomach. The lowermost extremity of the section 1 is formed with a cutaway portion or recess, as shown at 8, to conduce to the comfort of the wearer.

The protector, as before described, is of course intended to be worn continuously, or it may be removed at pleasure, and it will be seen that the article is extremely desirable in order to protect the body and prevent congestion along the spinal column, which is held to be responsible for many diseases traceable to congestion in the motor and sensory systems. As an article of warmth the protector is advantageous for obvious reasons, and the material from which it is made may be varied, so as to permit the same to be comfortably used in different seasons of the year and in different climates. The sides of the lower portion of the caudal section l of-the part 1 of the protector are adapted also to be filled with padding in a manner somewhat similar to that described with reference to the upper or scapulary section 1*, the purpose of such padding being to conduce to shapeliness. The section 1 preferably has a transverse opening 9 at the upper portion thereof to facilitate the introduction of such padding. To prevent the padding from crowding into the lower central portion of the section 1 it is preferred to provide said section with a curved line of stitching 10, which will effectively accomplish the desired result, keeping the lower central extremity of the part 1 separate to a certain extent from the side portions of the section 1".

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is- 1. As a new article, a pad or protective covering for the back comprising an upper scapulary section and a caudal section connected thereto, and adjustable shoulderstraps, each shoulder-strap being connected at opposite ends thereof to a side portion of the scapulary section.

2. As a new article, a protective covering or pad for the back, consisting of a scapulary section and a caudal section composed of plies or thicknesses of material, and means for attaching said covering to the body, the opposite sides of the scapulary section having openings at the upper portions thereof to ad mit of introduction of padding material for shaping purposes, the caudal section also having an opening for introduction of padding material for the purpose specified.

3. As a new article, a protective covering or pad for the back, consisting of a scapulary section and caudal section composed of plies or thicknesses of material, means for attaching said covering to the body, the opposite sides of the scapulary section having openings at the upper portions thereof to admit of introduction of padding material for shaping purposes, the caudal section also having an opening for introduction of padding material for the purpose specified, and a curved line of stitching extending inwardly from the lower central end portion of the caudal section and connecting the plies or thicknesses of material comprising the same.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

THOMAS E. SMITH.

Witnesses:

H. K. TAYLOR, JA's. M. RANKIN. 

